I have never played this game before but i see everywhere the game sucks if you dont install the modpack.

Is it worth playing vanilla? Is it really that unplayable without it?

The game is very buggy in its base state, and trying to play it that way can quickly become an exercise in frustration. Also, there are two versions of the Co8 modpack, a bug-fixes only version, and a new content version. If you don't want any new content and just want to play the base game but with bug-fixes then just grab the non-NC version of Co8.

I have actually only played vanilla. I keep intending to get Co8 on it, but I'm lazy. :D I got the game when Co8 didn't exist and I really never go around to putting it in. You will run into lots of bugs. Some of them you might not even know are bugs -- you'll just think that's how crappy something is supposed to run.

So, is it possible? Yes. Absolutely.

Would it be better to get Co8? Yes. Absolutely.

Personally i would advice you playing it vanilla the first time. Even though the Co8 mod fixes lots of bugs, introduce cut content and fixing stuff like feats, and being able to get masterwork weapons, they have also changed some things wih the original module and pnp rules which i for once dislike. The gog version is very playable as it is, so don't feel forced to trying the mod.

I'd suggest installing Co8 without new content for the first try.


... though it might actually be a good idea to try it out plain vanilla first.
The game is definitely not for everybody, with the mercilessly difficult early stages and all.

Yes, it is unplayable and crashes a lot without the Co8 mod.
Just take the one without New Content for the first play.

Because I lack the skills to install the mod on my mac, I am going to try to play through this without the patch. If someone knows for a fact that there is a game breaking bug (as opposed to just an annoying bug) I would really appreciate someone letting me know now...

I played through my first time with vanilla. Just be prepared for a lot of crashes and game freezes. A couple of recommendations:
- Save the game often with a different backup name each time, so you only lose a few minutes of play if your save file gets corrupted.
- Don't play in Iron-man mode, since if the save file gets corrupted, you have no backup to fall back on.
- Don't save the game during combat, as this can permanently corrupt the save file.
- Fill up the inventory of each NPC with arrows or goodberries or scrolls so they can't auto-loot any treasure, otherwise they will never sell anything and become encumbered.
- Homlett is REALLY boring, but has some useful experience and NPCs to hire. So google it (Sorcerer's Place has a nice one with a map) and follow a play-through guide JUST FOR HOMLETT. This will make it fairly painless.
- Screen freeze is quite prevalent in both the Fire Node and level 4 of the Temple till you disable the lightning trap. So try not to move the mouse too much in those areas.

Thank you so much for taking your time to explain all of that. It is very useful information.

I'd strongly recommend the co8 content, unless you really need to see vanilla. In my opinion, vanilla has some (not talking about bugs here; talking about content) glaring problems. In particular, the first part is very tedious - many shuttle missions. The new content replaces (adds to) that with actual dungeons and encounters. The beginning of this game gets depressing and boring for me, without the new content.

I would love to use it if I could but I haven't been able to find an explanation that I can understand for installing it on a mac.

That's ok. Me too. :)

heyheyhey! Look what I found:

www.co8.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9321&highlight=apple

Not sure what I will have to do to post a link here... Maybe chopping off the top?

-edit- awesome!!!

Putting this here as well:

I have put this together to hopefully explain how to install the Circle of Eight mod to Temple of Elemental Evil to people who are as useless at I am with macs. There may be better ways of doing this, but this is the way I did it. Hopefully it works for you too.

Step 1: Download and install Temple of Elemental Evil.

Step 2: Download the Mod. You can get it here:

Standard Edition:

http://www.moddb.com/mods/circle-of-eight-modpack/downloads/circle-of-eight-modpack-800-standard-edition

New Content Edition:

http://www.moddb.com/mods/circle-of-eight-modpack/downloads/circle-of-eight-modpack-800-new-content-edition

Step 3: Open the Temple of Elemental Evil package [right click, show package contents].

Step 4: Copy the mod file from your downloads folder to the Temple of Elemental Evil package (something like Circle_of_Eight_Modpack_8.0.0_New_Content_Edition_Setup.exe). I put it in the folder “drive_c”. The file should be about 500mb.

Step 5: Download a java runtime environment. I got mine from here:

https://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

You want the windows version, not the mac one.

Step 6: Open the Temple of Elemental Evil package [right click, show package contents].

Step 7: Copy and past the java installer from your downloads folder to the Temple of Elemental Evil package (something like jre-u55-windows-i586.exe). Again, I put it in the folder “drive_c”.

Step 8: Now you need to install java. Double click on Wineskin. Choose Advanced. Next to Windows.exe click browse. Select the installer (something like jre-u55-windows-i586.exe). To install the program, click “Test Run”. Follow the prompts.

Step 9: Once java is installed, you need to install the modpack. Next to Windows.exe click browse. Select the installer (something like Circle_of_Eight_Modpack_8.0.0_New_Content_Edition_Setup.exe). Again, to install the program, click “Test Run”. Follow the prompts. Make sure you install it in the right folder.

Step 10: Once the modpack is installed, you need to tell wine to run the Temple of Elemental Evil Front End. That is call TFE-X.exe. It should be in the Temple of Elemental Evil Folder.

You can click “Test Run” and hopefully it works. Close down the folder and from now on, when you double click on the file, it should run the Temple of Elemental Evil front end. You can then choose what options you like (such as increasing the level cap, maxing out hp increases, etc) before launching the game.

I hope this explains it and I haven't missed something crucial.

Big thanks to Gydion for patiently explaining to me, using small words that people with low intelligence can understand... :)